I'm “THE TALENT MAXIMIZATION EXPERT” because of the results I attain with my clients who are looking to grow and achieve market leadership. As a consultant, I have worked with a number of world-class companies including Best Buy, Inc., New Balance and Boston Beer. I’ve also worked with some pretty innovative companies like Keurig and UM International. I know first-hand what it’s like to be an employee and especially what it feels like to be a young leader who is suddenly in charge. In fact, I wrote the book on this subject; Suddenly in Charge: Managing Up, Managing Down, Succeeding All Around (Nicholas Brealey, 2011), a Washington Post Top 5 Book for Leaders, to prevent others from going through what I went through at the ripe old age of 24. My new book, Talent Magnetism (Nicholas Brealey, 2013) has just been released. I’m currently a top blogger for Fast Company, and the person Monster turns to for advice on attracting and maximizing top talent. My bi-monthly column on leadership can be read on Hotelexecutive.com I’m looking forward to interacting with all of you and can be reached at Roberta@matusonconsulting.com. While there, you can also sign up to receive my monthly newsletter, Talent Maximizer, which is jammed packed with tips and strategies to help you create workplaces that yield high levels of productivity and profitability.

If You Want to Be a Billionaire, Start Acting Like One

This past weekend, I attended the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame (founded by my cousin, Mitchell Schlimer) gala, where I got to meet with a number of entrepreneurs, including Subway Founder Fred DeLuca and Sarah Blakely founder and owner of Spanx. These people have built extraordinarily successful businesses from nothing, in the same economy as you and I operate.

What struck me most is that they face the same issues as you do in your businesses; only they are taking action to break through what holds others back. They are also giving generously to others.

Here’s how you can join this club:

Dream it. You’ll never get big if you don’t think big. You’ll just be asleep your entire life. Set a goal and achieve it. Then set another one that seems unobtainable.

Tune out the noise. Successful entrepreneurs at this world class event each spoke about having others dismiss their ideas as impossible. Whose laughing now? Hang around with smart people who believe in you and leave the naysayers for someone else.

Have a plan. Flying by the seat of your pants is for amateurs. You won’t reach millions in revenues, or even billions, without a plan. Starting out, you don’t have to have a big fancy plan, but you do have to have some sort of a plan so that you can easily replicate success.

Get help from someone who has been there. My most successful clients have trusted advisers in place. These are usually outside people who aren’t in fear of losing their job if they tell the truth. The same is true of these billionaires. And they still have outside help, even though they’ve made more money than most.

Give generously. Those who aspire to be billionaires don’t sit quietly at the table when the check arrives. They reach for it. They don’t wait for non-profits in need to ask for money. They find a cause and support it with more than just money. They provide the non-profit with people resources, which in many cases is more valuable than money.

Dress like a billionaire. Instead of buying a few suits on sale, buy one well-made suit that makes you look like a million bucks. Pay attention to details, like a nice gold watch.

Learn how to act in public. I didn’t see any of these people talking with their mouth full or reaching in front of someone else at the table. Manners can be learned at any age.

Start hanging out with billionaires. The easiest way to become a billionaire is to start hanging out with other billionaires. Their success will wear off on you. You can find people like this at places like the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia or at high powered conferences that attract like minded people.

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No one said getting to the billionaire status would be easy Peter. I can guarantee you that if you sit at home, it’s less likely that you’ll run into one of these people, unless of course you are married to one.

Peter, perhaps I wasn’t as clear as I could have been. Many people at the gala talked about how generous these billionaires have been over the years. Specifically Fred DeLuca, who spent time with others who were trying to build their businesses and who still responds when asked to help those who are in building mode.

I agree with you. You have to have an idea and you have to take that idea and build something with it. It’s certainly a lot easier to do this when you have access to someone who has done what you want to do.

Great article Roberta. I think if you exude confidence others pick up on this and will be more interested in your product or service. If you believe in yourself and your product or service and are not afraid of rejection, you will do well.

I honestly think that you have said it all. These are the most basic guidelines to lead someone to success and completion of his targets. I am convinced that we all have the power to succeed; the only thing we have to do it believing it, devoting all of our strength, having the suitable people beside us, and not letting any conditions stop us. In addition, it is good to remember, at times people that have succeeded by chasing their dreams and not giving up and I would suggest having a similar pattern or motive that will give us the strength to continue especially in weak moments.

I’m nineteen and in school, I seem to have a lot of good ideas about products, innovations , but I never know what the next step is, any suggestions? How did these people really take off? I’m from Canada so I can’t really go and meet them at any events.

Hi, I would like to ask how could I share some knowledge & experience on Forbes. I have a business idea to share and seeking for feedbacks; Sharingbiz – Online Shopping Mall and a globally business with 0 budgets & 0 risks, and it has 73 international merchants. Customers could enjoy their shopping whenever they like; because internet would never sleeps. Below are the links of the video, about why I started the business and self help book.

New Sharingbiz’s video; with 73 international merchants; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0LpFq_LVpw&feature=youtu.be

I’m also writing a self help book to help people in self-improve, self-encourage and self-motivate. The title is called “Anyone could achieve success in any field”, which helping people to meet success in their life or improve a better living.

I only show the first chapter to readers, and it can be read at here; http://www.sharingbiz1.webstarts.com